My Early Childhood Special Education students are curious, creative, and energetic four and five-year-olds with significant developmental delays. Our school is located on the east side of St. Paul, MN, where one hundred percent of our students receive free breakfast and lunch. Ninety-five percent of our students are children of color. Most of our students have difficulty getting their basic needs met, much less have money for the extras. There are 8 students in my class and all of them have special needs like developmental delays and autism.
My Project
Our district has moved from a half-day option and just opened up our first full-day preschool program. This means that my students with significant special education needs are going to be at school all day. With this change comes the need for each child to have a space they can call their own. They will be coming to school with backpacks, winter gear and blankets and stuffies for rest time. We have hooks for the backpacks and coats, but what we are lacking is a safe, secure, and clean place for them to store their napping supplies.
Everyone needs a space that is just theirs.
I want to respect that need even if it is this small little way by giving them a spot that is just for them to store some of their most prized possessions like a special blanket or stuffed animal that will help them fall asleep.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Ms. Deana and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.